Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has strongly condemned the alleged attempt on the life of independent Turkmen journalist Soltan Achilova and has called on the international community to pressure Turkmenistan to cease its repression of free press.
Achilova, a prominent journalist known for her critical reporting on Turkmenistan, stated that authorities attempted to poison her in November 2024 and later barred her from leaving the country under the pretext of an infectious disease diagnosis.
On the morning of November 20, as Achilova prepared to leave for the airport with her daughter, several individuals in medical uniforms arrived at her home. They demanded she open the door, with one forcibly snatching her key and reportedly threatening her, saying, “Why do you need a key in the other world?” As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, despite exhibiting no signs of illness, Achilova was forcibly taken to an infectious disease center in Ashgabat, where she was held in isolation for six days and barred from communicating her whereabouts.
In a video message published by Chronicles of Turkmenistan, Achilova directly blamed Turkmenistan’s authoritarian leadership, including President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and former President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, for orchestrating the incident, stating: “They will not rest until they destroy me. This is all done on their orders.”
Achilova suspects the poisoning attempt is connected to her journalistic work. Just days before she was scheduled to travel to Geneva to accept the prestigious Martin Ennals Award for human rights defenders, a man visited her home, claiming to have evidence of police corruption. He later returned with samosas, a traditional snack, which he offered as a gesture of goodwill. One of Achilova’s neighbors who sampled the food lost consciousness within 15 minutes and was rushed to the hospital, where she was placed in intensive care.
RSF has described the incident as part of a broader pattern of repression aimed at silencing dissenting voices in Turkmenistan. Jeanne Cavelier, RSF’s head of Eastern Europe and Central Asia, has expressed concern: “This attempted poisoning and systematic persecution of Soltan Achilova show that the Turkmen authorities will stop at nothing to suppress independent journalism. We call on the international community to intervene immediately to protect her life and her right to independent reporting.”
Soltan Achilova is one of the few journalists in Turkmenistan who openly engages with independent outlets, making her a frequent target of government harassment. Since beginning her work in 2006, she has faced threats, attacks, and constant surveillance. Her relatives are regularly interrogated, and her phone remains under strict monitoring.
This is not the first time authorities have obstructed Achilova’s international travel. In 2023, while attempting to travel to Geneva, border officials deliberately defaced her passport, rendering it invalid.
Turkmenistan consistently ranks among the world’s worst countries for freedom of the press, placing 175th out of 180 nations in the World Press Freedom Index. RSF continues to spotlight Achilova’s case as emblematic of Turkmenistan’s efforts to suppress independent journalism and maintain strict control over information.
RSF’s statement calls for immediate international intervention to ensure Achilova’s safety and to hold Turkmen authorities accountable for their systematic repression of journalists.
